Importance of menstrual hygiene | Right to live with dignity

Introduction

In a country like India, issues stem from multiple factors - there are economics at play, there is a lack of education and access to modern amenities and then there are social issues. If you were to have a conversation with women, at times, even in urban areas, they would tell you how social barriers are the biggest problems for them. And a topic like menstrual hygiene would be a complete and absolute no-no, more so in rural areas because these are not considered the problem of many. As a matter of fact, even today, there are men who prefer to shush anyone who picks a conversation related to women’s health and hygiene.

Why is menstrual health and hygiene not a conversation?

Even in modern-day India, women are bound by restrictions for those few days in a month - they are not allowed inside places of worship, they are not allowed to enter the kitchen, or become a part of any auspicious events. In many places, these days, women are not even allowed to sleep in their own beds.

Many times, women are forced to live in corners of the houses or locked up in a particular room, because she is considered impure during their menstruation. Women in urban centers who might be involved in informal work such as domestic help, construction road laying, etc, might not have access to basic sanitation facilities, where they can clean themselves or change their menstrual products. The condition is often worse in rural areas, where access to menstrual hygiene products is a problem.

Why is there a problem?

There are some serious issues that need to be addressed and as mentioned before, they stem from a range of financial and societal roots. Here are some of the most common concerns related to menstrual health and hygiene:

Menstruation cannot be a topic for only women - the conversation needs to expand and it is imperative that boys and men be included in it. As much as the knowledge needs to be given to girls, it needs to be given to boys as well.
There is a general lack - from proper toilets and water supply in schools to access to sanitary products for girls all over the country. Unless this lack is made up for, there is no real solution.
The pain and the discomfort are real and there needs to be a redressal system for the same - girls cannot be asked to hush up about it. Not only should they be allowed to express their pain, they should also be provided with some method of managing the same.
Should they have access to sanitary products, there is often still a problem related to proper disposal of the waste, especially in rural areas.

Does menstruation affect women?

Did you know that as per a survey conducted in rural Maharashtra, girls in the age group of 11-19, were seen missing school for more than 60 days a year, due to menstruation?
A 2016 report exposed that close to 63 million girls in India, were living in homes that did not have proper toilet facilities.
23% of girls dropped out of school when they started menstruating.

*Source: https://www.punekarnews.in/23-of-girls-drop-out-of-school-when-they-start-menstruating/

For most girls, the start of their menstrual cycle is often the end of the life they have known for so long - from the lack of proper toilets and sanitation facilities in schools to the unavailability of hygiene products and most importantly, the social stigma associated with a natural process has to lead to high dropout numbers. This is also often seen as an indication to get them married off, especially in rural areas and in families that are financially or socially marginalized.

Is there a light at the end of the tunnel?

In the recent past, there has been an improvement in the domain of menstrual hygiene in India - the conversation is slowly starting to come to the forefront.

In 2011, the National Health Mission brought about a scheme that concentrated on bringing menstrual hygiene to girls in rural areas.
In 2015, menstrual hygiene management became an important part of the Swachh Bharat Mission.
As per the 5th National Family Health Survey, close to 90% of women who had been in school for at least 12 years, had been using proper menstrual hygiene products.
Several states have made provisions to distribute either free or at least subsidized sanitary pads to girls who need them.

Here are the NGOs working on menstrual hygiene

In a country like India, which is not only vast in terms of geography but also culture and societal norms, reaching out to every girl and woman who needs support during her menstruation, becomes possible only through the untiring work of NGOs working on menstrual hygiene.

Here are 7 such NGOs that are working towards not only removing the taboo associated with menstruation but also providing the assistance that women need:

Myna Mahila Foundation: Based out of Mumbai, this NGO has been working with the slum women of the city to not only educate them about the need to use proper menstrual products but also the maintenance of hygiene during those days. The volunteers encourage the women to talk more openly about periods and learn more about the proper disposal of used sanitary products. From spreading awareness via college students to identifying and sponsoring girls from financially challenged backgrounds, there is a lot that this organization is doing.
WaterAid India: This is yet another organization that has been working towards not only spreading education about menstruation but also providing proper sanitation facilities and clean drinking water to rural and marginalized sections of the country. Through their Red is the New Green campaign, they are trying to reach out to as many school-going girls as possible to educate them about proper menstrual care and make them aware of why it is important to maintain proper hygiene.
Pinkishe Foundation: Aiming to end period poverty, Pinkishe started with just 2 volunteers, but today it has grown to more than 200,000 women and has more than 20 branches. Through their flagship program, Pad Bank, they are reaching out to thousands of girls and women on a daily basis, offering them sanitary pads. The aim of this organization is to offer all menstruating women a chance to go through those days with comfort and dignity and this they aim to do by offering affordable menstrual products.
Stonesoup Trust: If you were to count the NGOs working for menstrual hygiene, Stonesoup would definitely feature in this list, because this is one of the NGOs working exclusively in the domain of menstruation and menstrual care. They are looking to spread menstrual awareness in every part of the country, including reaching out to low-income areas, rural parts of the country, and tribal regions. From programs that talk about menstruation to activities that make this a non-taboo subject, from supplying period care products that are also eco-friendly to making the menstruation period a happy and delightful experience, there is plenty that they are doing!
Go On India: Understanding the right to live with dignity that every woman deserves, Go On India offers organic sanitary pads that are also low-cost and biodegradable. While ensuring accessibility with these sanitary pads, they are also trying to spread awareness and education about periods. Through their Ashamed of Asking campaign, they are reaching out to multiple schools in rural areas, teaching girls about menstruation, the need, and method of using proper sanitary products, and proper disposal as well.
Ayzh Headquartered in Chennai, is an international menstrual hygiene NGO - their aim is to provide low-cost healthcare products to women across the globe. By providing high-quality sanitary pads at really low costs, they are offering menstruating women a chance to have safer periods. They also hire local women in the process of packaging the sanitary products and preparing kits that are suitable for new mothers.
Sachhi Saheli: Dedicated to empowering women during menstruation, this NGO as the name suggests is more of a true friend to women. So, they not only provide sanitary pads and menstrual hygiene products, but they also conduct seminars and workshops, where women are encouraged to open up and talk about periods. Their vision is to create a world, where women are allowed to live with dignity during their menstruation and remove all social stigma that is associated with this completely natural process.